Gene Pitney, Who Sang of 60's Teenage Pathos, Dies at 65 - The New York Times The New York Times Arts |Gene Pitney, Who Sang of 60's Teenage Pathos, Dies at 65 Search Continue reading the main story Correction Appended Gene Pitney, the clean-cut crooner who became a teenage idol in the early 1960's with hits like "Town Without Pity," "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" and "Only Love Can Break a Heart" -- songs that showcased his keening tenor -- was found dead yesterday in a hotel in Cardiff, Wales, while on a tour of Britain. He was 65. He appeared to have died of natural causes, the police told The Associated Press. Mr. Pitney had performed in Cardiff the night before. With a style less baroque than Roy Orbison and more restrained than the Righteous Brothers, Mr. Pitney emerged at the peak of the Brill Building era, when teenage pathos reigned in lyrics and a hit song could be both silly and grandiose.

He recorded with Phil Spector and performed songs by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Carole King and Gerry Goffin, and others, scoring 16 titles in the Top 20 between 1961 and 1968. Preppy and wholesome-looking, Mr. Pitney sang with perfect diction, making every cry-y-y perfectly clear. He was influenced by black R & B groups of the 1950's and specialized in ballads that boiled over in romantic melodrama. "Every Breath I Take," from 1961, combines doo-wop backing vocals with a gathering tempest of sentimentality, culminating in Mr. Pitney's ecstatic falsetto in the final chorus. Around him, strings swirl and drums thump in one of the earliest examples of Mr. Spector's muscular "wall of sound" recording technique. Advertisement Continue reading the main story In "I'm Gonna Be Strong," a Pitney archetype written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and released in 1964, Mr. Pitney begins in hushed tones by saying that he will remain calm and steady as his lover leaves him.

But by the end, barely two minutes later, he has broken his promise and exploded into a soaring, tearful confession as he exclaims: "You'll never know, darling, after you kiss me goodbye/How I'll break down and cry." Born in Hartford, Mr. Pitney had his first success as a songwriter, writing for Steve Lawrence, Roy Orbison and Bobby Vee. Ricky Nelson recorded three of his songs, including the hit "Hello Mary Lou." Another Pitney song, "He's a Rebel," a girl-group classic recorded by Mr. Spector and credited to the Crystals (though the lead vocal was sung by Darlene Love), became a No. 1 hit in 1962. Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up Privacy Policy His performing career began in earnest in January 1961, when the Musicor label released a demo recording of his song "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away," on which he sang all the vocals and played all the instrumental parts.

Later that year he sang the title song to the film "Town Without Pity"; the song was nominated for an Academy Award. One of his signature numbers, "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance," written by Mr. Bacharach and Mr. David, was recorded for the John Ford film of the same title, but it was not used in the film. Mr. Pitney later said in an interview that he was in the studio about to record the song when " Bacharach informed us that the film just came out." Regardless, the song went to No. 4. In 1963, while on tour in Britain, Mr. Pitney met the young Rolling Stones and recorded their song "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday." When released early the next year, it became the first Jagger-Richards composition to reach the charts in the United States, at No. 49. Mr. Pitney remained a regular presence on the American charts through the mid-60's, with songs like "24 Hours From Tulsa," "True Love Never Runs Smooth" and "Half Heaven -- Half Heartache," and he recorded with the country star George Jones.

But by the end of the decade his popularity had faded in the United States. He found success in Britain and Europe early on, and he continued to tour there throughout his career, recording in Italian and Spanish for overseas fans. In the late 80's he scored a No. 1 hit in Britain with "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart," a duet with Marc Almond. Throughout his life, though, he made his home in Connecticut. His survivors include his wife, Lynne, and three sons. A crowning moment for him came in 2002, when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Ms. Love introduced him. "Gene really had a way with the females," she told the audience, "but he had far more than just solid good looks." Correction: April 15, 2006, Saturday An obituary of the pop singer Gene Pitney on April 6 misstated his age. He was 66, not 65.

Gene Pitney — Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and photos at Last.fm gene pitney Gene Pitney (born Gene Francis Alan Pitney in Hartford, Connecticut, USA on 17 February 1940 - died 5 April 2006 (Cardiff, Wales). After a successful singing career spanning five decades, at the age of 66, he was found dead of natural causes, while in the middle of a sellout UK tour. Pitney, a pop rock pioneer, had his greatest success overall in Britain, first travelling there after his first self penned hit in 1961. "I Wanna Love My Life Away" hit… read more April 5, 2006: Singer Gene Pitney dies | GulfNews.com April 5, 2006: Singer Gene Pitney dies Published: 17:00 April 4, 2016 Abdul Kareem, Head of Archive Singer Gene Pitney dies after Wales show American singer Gene Pitney, who shot to fame in the 1960s with hits including 24 hours from Tulsa, has died while on tour.

Pitney, 65, died in the Welsh capital Cardiff where he had given a concert the day before. There was no immediate word on the cause of death. South Wales Police said they had been called to a hotel and that the death was not being treated as suspicious. His wife, Lynne, had been told of his death. Pitney also left three sons, David, Todd, and Chris. Tour manager James Kelly said he was stunned by the singer’s death. “I’ve never seen him so well,” he said. “He was absolutely buzzing and full of life.” He said Pitney had been found fully clothed on his hotel bed as if he had just lain down for a rest after the show. Born on February 17, 1941 in Hartford, Connecticut, Pitney initially had no real ambition to be a singer. Oher important events 1664 Peace Treaty of Westminster ends first Anglo-Dutch War. 1881 Britain concludes Treaty of Pretoria with Boers, recognising independence of South African Republic of Transvaal. 1896 First modern Olympic Games begin in Athens. 1930 Mahatma Gandhi ends a march to Dandi in the Salt Satyagraha.

1933 US President Franklin D. Roosevelt bans the hoarding of gold in the US as it is stifling economic growth. 1939 All German children between ages of 10 and 13 are ordered to serve in the Hitler Youth Organization. 1951 Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are sentenced to death in the US as atomic spies for Soviet Union. 1955 Winston Churchill resigns as British Prime Minister amid signs of failing health. 1958 Fidel Castro begins ‘total war’ against Batista government in Cuba. 1971 Pakistan airlifts foreigners from East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, as fighting rages during a revolt. 1975 General Chiang Kai-shek dies after 47 years in power, first in China and later in Taiwan. 1976 James Callaghan becomes British Prime Minister following Harold Wilson’s resignation. 1986 Two people are killed and 150 people injured in a bomb attack on a West Berlin La Belle discotheque. 1988 Hijackers seize Kuwait Airways jumbo jet and force it to land in Iran.

1992 Iranian planes bomb an opposition base in the Iraqi desert on their first raid into Iraq since 1988. 1994 Israeli troops start pulling out from Gaza Strip. 1995 The new headquarters for Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry is inaugurated. 1996 Heavy fighting in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, leaves 17 dead. 1998 The Akashi Kaiyo Bridge, the world’s longest suspension bridge, opens in Kobe, western Japan. 1999 Libya hands over to the UN two former government agents to stand trial for the bombing of a Pan Am aircraft over Lockerbie in 1988. 2000 Yoshiro Mori replaces Keizo Obuchi as Prime Minister of Japan. 2006 Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra quits to let deputy lead caretaker regime. 2008 Zayed International Humanitarian Award is launched in Abu Dhabi. 2010 Legendary England cricketer Alec Bedser dies at the age of 91. 2012 The Saudi Arabia Olympic Committee announces that they will not endorse women athletes to the London Olympics.

Gene Pitney - Songwriter, Singer - Biography.com Gene Pitney Singer and songwriter Gene Pitney wrote and recorded popular music in the 1960s, including Ricky Nelson's 1961 hit "Hello Mary Lou." IN THESE GROUPS Famous People Named Pitney Synopsis Singer and songwriter Gene Pitney was born in Hartford, Connecticut on February 17, 1941. He began his career as a songwriter. Notable hits were “Rubber Ball” sung by Bobby Vee and “Hello Mary Lou” by Ricky Nelson. He recorded his own hits too, such as 1967’s “Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. He died on April 5, 2006. Profile Singer and songwriter, born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. His first hit as a writer came with ‘Rubber Ball’ (1961), recorded by Bobby Vee. He also wrote ‘Hello Mary Lou’, a hit for Ricky Nelson in 1961, and one of his most revived songs.

Among his hits as a singer were ‘I Wanna Love My Life Away’ (1961), ‘24 Hours From Tulsa’ (1963), and ‘Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart’ (1967). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us ! Citation Information Gene Pitney, 65; Sang the Hit `Town Without Pity,' and Wrote `He's a Rebel' - latimes Gene Pitney, 65; Sang the Hit `Town Without Pity,' and Wrote `He's a Rebel' April 06, 2006 |Geoff Boucher | Times Staff Writer Gene Pitney, a successful songwriter of the early 1960s rock-pop scene who reinvented himself as a teen idol with a melodramatic tenor and such hits as the Oscar-nominated "Town Without Pity," was found dead Wednesday morning in a hotel room in Wales. He was 65.

The 2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee had performed Tuesday night in Cardiff, one of the many European cities where the American singer remained popular despite his 1960s fade from fame in his native country. "We don't have a cause of death at the moment, but looks like it was a very peaceful passing," James Kelly, Pitney's tour manager, told the Associated Press. Gene Francis Allan Pitney was born Feb. 17, 1941, in Hartford, Conn., and during his youth in nearby Rockville, he became an adept musician. As the 1950s came to a close, the teen had already been frontman in his own band, Gene and the Genials. For The Record Los Angeles Times Saturday April 22, 2006 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 0 inches; 24 words Type of Material: Correction Pitney obituary: The obituary for singer Gene Pitney that appeared in the April 6 California section reported his age as 65. He was 66.

Music publisher and songwriter Aaron Schroeder signed the young Pitney, who in the early 1960s wrote the signature Ricky Nelson hit "Hello Mary Lou," the Roy Orbison tune "Today's Teardrops," the Crystals classic "He's a Rebel" and Bobby Vee's "Rubber Ball." But Pitney wanted to be in the spotlight himself, and he found it in 1961 with the release of "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away." That recording cracked the Top 40 and was notable for its then-unusual multitrack production and overdubbed sound as well as the vibrato that would become a Pitney hallmark. That studio ambition, which set Pitney apart from teen idols of the time, was also in play on his third single, "Every Breath I Take," which became a classic example of producer Phil Spector's famed "wall of sound" production. In 1962, Pitney had a hit with the story-song "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance," which was intended as a tailored movie theme to the John Ford western that had the same title and starred John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart.

"We were in the studio about to record the song and [songwriter Burt] Bacharach informed us that the film just came out," Pitney would later tell Mike Ragogna, who wrote the liner notes for a Pitney greatest hits collection. The western-themed hit song was written by Bacharach and Hal David, who would give Pitney a chain of hits: "Only Love Can Break a Heart" in 1962 and "24 Hours from Tulsa" and "True Love Never Runs Smooth" a year later. "He was a rare talent and a beautiful man, and his voice was unlike any other. I have great memories of working in the studio recording with Gene," Bacharach said Wednesday in a statement. "Only Love Can Break a Heart" would become Pitney's strongest chart success, peaking at No. 2 in the U.S. in November 1962. There was a satisfying consolation -- the song in the No. 1 spot was the Pitney-penned "He's a Rebel." Pitney toured England in 1963 and met a scruffy young band called the Rolling Stones.

With a friendship struck up, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger gave the American star "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday," making Pitney the artist with the first Jagger-Richards composition to hit the charts in America. In the mid-1960s, Pitney took a different musical tack by teaming his tenor with the baritone of country music icon George Jones for two albums. He also recorded a collection with country singer Melba Montgomery in that period. The U.S. Top 40 hits for Pitney ended with his 1968 song "She's a Heartbreaker." As his American audience shrank, he looked to Europe for his fans. The man who had been voted "Italy's favorite singer" in 1964 recorded in Spanish and Italian and twice finished second at the San Remo Song Festival. In 1970, angry about a tax squabble with the U.S. government, Pitney decided that the life he wanted was the faraway road. Over the next 15 years, his pattern would be to tour Europe in the fall, spend the winter at home, and then go to Japan, Australia and New Zealand before a summer spent back in Connecticut.

"The thing I always liked best about touring abroad was constantly running into different people, different cultures, different foods," he told The Times in 1989. "It really pumped up my batteries.... I'm constantly playing to a demographically diverse audience ... one generation is driven by nostalgia, the next by curiosity. And that's why I have no plans to retire." His British fan base remained strong and, in 1989, he even had a surprise hit when Marc Almond of the techno-pop duo Soft Cell joined Pitney to record a new version of his 1960s song "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart." In 1990, the resulting duet gave Pitney his lone No. 1 hit on the British charts. Last week, in an interview with the South Wales Evening Post on the eve of his final concert, Pitney reflected on the 1960s zenith of his career: "It was a unique period. I was having a hell of a good time traveling the world, writing, performing and recording." Pitney is survived by his wife, Lynne, and three sons, David, Todd and Chris.

MORE: Gene Pitney; "The Rockville Rocket" The last song he sang...

When you're young and so in love as we And bewildered by the world we see Why do people hurt us so Only those in love would know What a town without pity can do If we stop to gaze upon a star People talk about how bad we are Ours is not an easy age We're like tigers in a cage What a town without pity can do The young have problems, many problems We need an understanding heart Why don't they help us, try and help us Before this clay and granite planet falls apart Take these eager lips and hold me fast I'm afraid this kind of joy can't last How can we keep love alive How can anything survive When those little minds tear you in two What a town without pity can do Take these eager lips and hold me fast I'm afraid this kind of joy can't last How can we keep love alive How can anything survive When those little minds tear you in two What a town without pity can do No it isn't very pretty What a town without pity can do Whoa, can do A great site from his friends, Brian and Sue Dench, on the "other side of the pond" They will miss Pitney 'like crazy'; pay tribute to 'small-town guy' By Jason Rowe, Journal Inquirer 

04/12/2006 Hundreds of Gene Pitneys family, friends, and fans pay their respects to the Hall of Famer on Tuesday at Somers Funeral Home in Somers.

(David Butler II for the Journal Inquirer) SOMERS- For "Wild" Wayne Jones, Gene Pitney's status as the top musical performer from Connecticut is unchallenged. "I don't think there is anyone who comes even close," said Jones, who has hosted an oldies music show on WWUH-FM91.3 for 30 years and devoted a two-hour program Sunday to the late singer. "We tried to show some of the diversity, how he did everything from doo-wop to country hits. He could do it all." Jones was among hundreds of mourners from around the country and even overseas who came to the Somers Funeral Home on Tuesday night to pay their respects to the family of the man known as the "Rockville Rocket." A funeral Mass for Pitney, who died last week during a month-long British concert tour, was to be celebrated today at All Saints Roman Catholic Church, with burial to follow in Somers Center Cemetery on Battle Street.

Pitney, 66, a Vernon native and inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff, Wales, on April 5, only hours after performing a concert in the Welsh capital's St. David's Hall. British authorities attributed his death to natural causes. On Tuesday, friends, fans, and colleagues remembered Pitney fondly for the way his music, and his approach to his music, touched their lives. The originator of songs like "Town Without Pity," "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," and "Only Love Can Break a Heart," Pitney rose from his humble beginnings as a singer in a local band to international stardom. Among those paying respects Tuesday was Gary Rue, a Minneapolis resident who played in Pitney's U.S. and Canadian bands since the mid 1980s. Since 1988, Rue had served as Pitney's U.S. and Canadian music director, playing piano and cueing Pitney during his performances. Rue, 54, said Pitney, despite his successes, was always down to earth and easy to talk to. That combination helped the musicians in his band thrive, Rue said.

"It was like talking to your brother," Rue said. "It made you do your job well and we functioned within those parameters and we did it beautifully." Many of those who gathered Tuesday were still dealing with the shock of Pitney's sudden death. Once word of the singer's death became public, so many people logged on to Pitney's Web site for information that it crashed, said Dave McGrath, who was in charge of Pitney's tour merchandise and his international fan club. Pitney - McGrath's best friend - served as best man at McGrath's wedding in 1998. He recalled the times when crowds of 150 to 200 fans would attend fan club events in Great Britain, where Pitney had a huge following, to spend time with their favorite singer. McGrath said Pitney would spend personal time with each one of the fans who came. And McGrath also reflected on some of the projects that Pitney was working on that would not come to fruition. Among them was a long-planned Christmas album. "Gene never looked back," said McGrath, who came to Somers Tuesday from his home in Wisconsin. "The guy never talked about how great it was in the '60s.

He always looked forward." Pitney's friends and associates were not the only ones who made long trips for Tuesday's wake. Linda Mallory, a longtime fan, flew to Connecticut from Chicago to attend the Pitney services. Mallory said she had gone to 35 of Pitney's concerts during the past five years, the most recent coming in September. Although he didn't travel as far as some others, Bob Dellarocco of Enfield said he became a big fan of Pitney's while he was a boy during the early 1960s. Dellarocco, 50, was present at one of Pitney's last Connecticut performances, when he played a benefit concert at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Connecticut Community Care Inc. "He was a real legend in the business," said Dellarocco, who called news of Pitney's death shocking. "He was truly a great man." Although Tuesday's viewing was not scheduled to begin until 4 p.m., crowds began to gather at the Somers Funeral Home by 3 p.m. Several times during the evening, the line outside the funeral home stretched around the corner of the one-story, brick building.

Two state police officers were on hand to ensure an orderly flow of vehicular traffic on Route 190. Pitney's former musical colleagues were well represented, who talked of performing with the Rockville native before he became famous. Louis Clayton of Hartford, a member of the 5 Bell Aires, a group who sang backup with Pitney during the late 1950s and early 1960s, talked about Pitney's precise musical ability. Clayton recalled a time when the group was rehearsing and Pitney told them they sounded a bit flat. Not believing the future star at first, the Bell Aires watched as Pitney went over to the piano to demonstrate what he was hearing. "He was right, we were flat," Clayton said with a smile. Now an employee of the U.S. Postal Service in Hartford, Clayton said his colleagues didn't believe him when he told them he played with Pitney. But that changed once a biography about Pitney was published in 2004 and he was able to show his coworkers pictures of him and Pitney. "He was a damn good singer," Clayton said.

"He knew his music." Clayton and other members of the 5 Bell Aires reunited with Pitney at a concert at the Mohegan Sun in March 2003. Also at the reunion were members of Pitney's first band, The Genials, who were formed during the late 1950s while Pitney and the Genials were still students at Rockville High School. Bob Terry, who played guitar with The Genials, said he is still in shock over the sudden death of his childhood friend and musical collaborator. "He was always a presence in my life, but I didn't realize, until now, just how big that presence was," said Terry, who now lives in Coventry. "He was so powerful. He was so robust. He was in such good shape." And although he had achieved international fame, friends and colleagues said Pitney always loved returning to Connecticut, where he could spend private time with his wife, Lynne, and his three sons, Todd, Chris, and David. McGrath said Pitney was a devoted husband and father, who put his family before work. Sometimes, he would even bring Lynne and his family on tour with him.

Calling Lynne Pitney an "awesome woman," McGrath said the singer's family has a good support network surrounding them as they deal with the loss of their husband and father. Although he didn't talk specifically about Somers or Connecticut very often to him, Rue said he could understand why Pitney remained here. "He was the kind of guy who would be comfortable in a place liked this," Rue said. "Gene is a small-town guy." And while he demanded a lot of those who performed with him, Rue said, Pitney always delivered to his audiences. "Gene never did a bad show," Rue said, with a smile. "I'm going to miss him like crazy, the whole experience." ï¿½Journal Inquirer 2006 OBITUARY Gene Pitney, 66, of Somers and formerly of Rockville died on Wednesday, April 5, 2006, in Welsh Capital, Cardiff, UK. Gene was born on February 17, 1940, in Hartford, CT the son of the late Harold F. and Anna A. (Orlowski) Pitney. He was passionate about his work, but most of all he loved being home with his family.

He will be dearly missed, but will live on through his music. He is survived by his loving wife Lynne (Gayton) Pitney, his three sons, Todd, Chris and his wife Shannon, and David; his Akita, Gracie; two brothers Francis Pitney and Dennis Pitney; two sisters Shirley Stutz and Nancy Pike; several nieces and nephews. He also leaves his many close friends, associates and dedicated fans from around the world. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 11 am at All Saints Church, 25 School St., Somersville, CT. Please meet at the church. Gene will be laid to rest in Somers Center Cemetery. His family will receive relatives and friends during visiting hours from 4-9 pm on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 at the Somers Funeral Home, 354 Main St. (Rt. 190), Somers.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Genes memory may be made to either the Connecticut Public Broadcasting, 1049 Asylum Ave., Hartford, CT 06105 or to the Humane Society of the United States through their website: Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Small & Pietras Funeral Home 65 Elm St., Rockville, CT 06066. For online expressions of sympathy to the family please visit 01 His family's home in Rockville CT where he grew up. The following pictures show his hometown of Rockville. Just as he had "snow on his roof" as he got older. Rockville received an unusual snow fall over night into the morning. The Memorial Tower on Henry Park is similar to a rocket. It had snow on it's roof this sad day, perhaps in his honor? We'll miss you Gene! Click on the pictures to enlarge.

03 from the Journal Inquirer, originally the Rockville Inquirer World without Pitney: 'Rockville Rocket' dies By: Tom Breen and Jason Rowe, Journal Inquirer 04/05/2006 Gene Pitney, the Vernon native who gained international fame with a string of hit songs like "Town Without Pity" and "24 Hours From Tulsa," was found dead today at a hotel in Cardiff, Wales. He was 66. Pitney was in the middle of a 23-date touring schedule, playing a show in the United Kingdom almost every night for a month. He was found dead in his bed this morning after having played a show in Cardiff the night before, his tour manager told the Associated Press. "Last night was generally one of the happiest and most exuberant performances we've seen out of him," the manager, James Kelly, said. "He was absolutely on top of his game and was really happy with the show." No cause of death was immediately available, but a Cardiff police spokesman said Pitney's death was not suspicious. Pitney married his Rockville High School sweetheart, Lynne, in 1967, and they raised three sons in Somers.

Kathleen Devlin, a Somers selectwoman and friend of the family, remembered the singer fondly today, saying her own son had been treated like a member of the Pitney family. "He was very kind, very generous," she said. "He was a private man," Devlin added. "He loved his family and his children and wanted what was best for them." Pitney, who often recorded in a studio in his Somers home, told the Journal Inquirer last year that it was always a relief to come home after a long tour. "The best move I ever made was to stay here," he said. "It really is a beautiful place to live." Born in Hartford on Feb. 17, 1940, Pitney grew up on Hammond Street in the Rockville section of Vernon. At an early age, he began playing in bands with friends from school, eventually leading the band Gene and the Genials. Richard "Dick" Spurling and Robert "Bob" Terry, who both played in the five-member Genials, said they were shocked when they received word today that Pitney had died. It was Pitney and Spurling, a drummer, who joined together to plant the seeds of what would become the Genials.

Spurling, a childhood friend, said he could tell from an early age that Pitney had a special talent for music. Spurling, who now lives in Ellington, recalled a grade-school Christmas celebration, in which Pitney performed a striking version of "Silent Night." Even as they played with him in the band, Spurling said, the Genials were always mindful of Pitney's talents and wanted to help him succeed. "He was a brilliant guy, and he could have done anything he wanted to in his life," Spurling said. "It was a fun time." Terry said that while Pitney's work had a lasting impact on music around the world, that success never made the Vernon native lose touch with the people from his past. Terry, who played guitar in the Genials, said he had the opportunity to reunite with Pitney and Spurling during one of his performances at the Mohegan Sun in Montville a couple years ago. Both Terry and Spurling said they enjoyed the experience of seeing Pitney and talking about their past experiences, which included lugging band members and equipment around in a small 1930s coupe.

Terry said he was always struck by the way Pitney demanded excellence from himself while he was on stage. "He was so demanding of perfection in what he did," said Terry, a Coventry resident and a retired teacher at Cheney Technical High School in Manchester. "He never let up on getting it right and the people who worked with him, knew this." Still, Terry said, Pitney always had an approachable and friendly demeanor. "He was a very serious guy, but a nice guy," Terry said. As a young man, Pitney was nicknamed "The Rockville Rocket" by a local radio disc jockey, a moniker that stayed with him throughout his career. He first became prominent not as a performer, but as a songwriter. When he was barely out of his teens, he wrote "Hello Mary Lou" for Rick Nelson and "Rubber Ball" for Bobby Vee. He became famous in his own right, though, for a string of remarkable, well-crafted songs that showed off his range and ability as a singer.

The songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote a number of compositions for Pitney, including "Only Love Can Break a Heart," "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," and "24 Hours From Tulsa." Although Pitney never had a No. 1 hit in the U.S., "Only Love Can Break a Heart" reached No. 2 in 1962. Ironically, Pitney kept himself off the top of the charts, since the Crystals' rendition of "He's a Rebel," which Pitney had written, was No. 1 at the time. Pitney shared a publicist with the Rolling Stones, and in 1964 sat in on a recording session that produced their hit "Not Fade Away." Pitney, in fact, recorded the first composition by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to reach the American charts, with "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday." As the 1960s wore on and British Invasion groups displaced American singers from the charts in the U.S., Pitney found fame in Britain and continental Europe that lasted throughout his life. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Pitney avoided the oldies revival circuit, thanks to his European success.

He even had a No. 1 hit in Great Britain in 1989 with "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart," a duet with former Soft Cell singer Marc Almond. In 2002, Darlene Love, who sang on "He's a Rebel," inducted Pitney into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Last June, Pitney performed at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford in a benefit concert to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Connecticut Community Care Inc. In an interview conducted days before that show, Pitney told the Journal Inquirer that he was looking forward to returning to the Bushnell, where he had last performed in the early 1960s. He also talked about his upcoming tour, which included stops at the Mohegan Sun and in Palm Beach, Las Vegas, and Pennsylvania before he was scheduled to begin the European leg of the tour last month. During that interview, Pitney talked about his personal stamina, noting that he was doing some of the longest shows of his career.

Pitney credited his spending three days a week with a personal trainer for allowing him to perform longer than an hour in recent years, whereas 45-minute performances used to take all of his energy. "I'm doing the best shows now that I've ever done in my career," Pitney said. ï¿½Journal Inquirer 2006 In late January or early February, Gene Pitney, perhaps the single most famous Rockville native alive today, is scheduled to appear on Tolland County Economy, a 30-minute talk show on the Community Voice Channel 5 on Comcast cable. During the show, host Drew Crandall will interview The Rockville Rocket on his roots, his lifetime career in entertainment, the business side of his career, opportunities seized, challenges faced, how hes doing today, why he continued to live in Tolland County, and what his dreams may be for the future. After more than thirty years in show business, Gene Pitney is still a pop superstar with millions of fans around the world.

A long and winding road has taken Gene from his humble beginnings in Rockville to the high-profile stages of the worlds greatest cities: Carnegie Hall in New York, the Palladium in London, and the Opera House in Sydney. For exact broadcast day and time, please call Crandall at 871- 6500 or visit Gene Pitney dies - The Steel Guitar Forum The Steel Guitar Forum From: Balto., Md. U.S.A. posted 05 April 2006 06:31 AM profile A great singer/songwriter from the '60s, Gene Pitney, has died while on tour at age 65. Famous for his own hit records by Bacharach/David, such as "Town Without Pity", "Only Love Can Break A Heart", "Half Heaven, Half Heartache", and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", Pitney also wrote some big hits such as "Hello Mary Lou", for Rick Nelson, and "Rubber Ball", for Bobby Rydell.

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 05 April 2006 at 06:40 AM.] Barbara Hennerman posted 05 April 2006 07:11 AM profile * [This message was edited by Barbara Hennerman on 21 August 2006 at 01:51 AM.] Fred Shannon From: Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas posted 05 April 2006 07:30 AM profile By "guitar", I assume you mean PSG, and that probably would have been Sonny Curtis. Sonny was on every Jones' recording from 1964-1969. I also think the Jordanaires were also on the Pitney-Jones duets. All by memory. Phred "From Truth, Justice is Born"--Quanah Parker-1904 Bobby Lee From: Cloverdale, North California, USA posted 05 April 2006 10:29 AM profile I always knew he was a great singer, but I didn't realize that he wrote his own hit songs. What a talent!

GaryHoetker From: Bakersfield, CA, USA posted 05 April 2006 11:08 AM profile Sad news Donny. Pitney was very versatile and an exceptional artist in both Pop and Country. His duets with George Jones and Melba Montgomery recorded on Musicor in the mid -60's are excellent and must haves for traditional country fans. They're available on Barbara Hennerman posted 05 April 2006 12:15 PM profile * [This message was edited by Barbara Hennerman on 21 August 2006 at 01:51 AM.] Kevin Hatton From: Amherst, N.Y. posted 05 April 2006 12:41 PM profile I was just listening to a rebroadcast of an anthology interview with him on XM Satellite radio. The guy was an amazing singer. His collaborations with David and Bacharach are world class classics. I didn't really understand how under rated a talent he was until I heard him on this interview. He was a classy guy. I love "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance".

erik From: posted 05 April 2006 04:28 PM profile This is troubling as I saw him on PBS a year or so ago doing a local interview here in CT. He was very fit and mentioned how working out at the gym changed his career as it gave him the energy to continue performing. I mean he looked built, not just fit. He looked MUCH younger than his age. I wonder if he was taking growth hormone or something. Very weird. ------------------ Gene Pitney found dead in Cardiff. - Free Online Library Gene Pitney found dead in Cardiff. <a href=" Citations: MLA style: "Gene Pitney found dead in Cardiff.." The Free Library. 2006 MGN Ltd. 17 Jan. 2017 Chicago style: The Free Library. S.v. Gene Pitney found dead in Cardiff.." Retrieved Jan 17 2017 from APA style: Gene Pitney found dead in Cardiff.. (n.d.) >The Free Library. (2014). Retrieved Jan 17 2017 from Byline: By Gerry Holt South Wales Echo Singer Gene Pitney was found dead today in Cardiff.

The 65-year-old American star was found just after 10am at the Hilton Hotel. Last night he performed in front of his adoring fans at St David's Hall, where he sang hits including 24 Hours from Tulsa. US legend died in his bed after show to remember: Singing legend Gene Pitney has been found dead in his bed at a Cardiff hotel. The 65-year-old American superstar - who had hits during his 40-year career with Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart and Twenty-Four Hours From Tulsa, was discovered just after 10am today. He performed at St David's Hall last night midway through his UK tour and had shown no signs of illness. Mark Howes, spokesman for management company In Touch Music, said he was found in his bed by his tour manager. Mr Howes said today: "Everyone has been shocked by the death and there had been no signs that he was ill. "He did a good show last night at St David's Hall and it was wonderful. "I've seen him quite a few times on this tour and he was fit and well.

He said it was the best tour he had done for quite a few years." Wendy Brown, front of house manager for St David's Hall, said: 'We are all devastated by what we heard. His concert last night was brilliant. We were all saying one of the best. I spoke to him backstage. There was nothing out of the ordinary. We are all just very sorry.' Life-long Gene Pitney fan, Steve Fudge, said: 'I'm absolutely gutted - I did all my courting to his music. I would drag my ex-missus all over the place. I'm devastated because I've listened to him ever since I was a boy. I'm 58 now. 'He gave a brilliant performance last night. But I felt there was something not quite right with his body movements, he looked like he was dragging his left hip a little. But he looked well otherwise so I can't believe it. I thought it was a joke when I heard this morning - I said 'don't be silly I saw him last night'.' An ambulance was called to the five-star hotel this morning but was not needed.

Echo reporter Wendy Horton, who attended his last concert last night, said: 'I have been a fan now for 18 years and have seen him six times. 'I interviewed him about 16 years ago backstage at the Newport Centre and he was one of the nicest stars that I have ever had the privilege to meet. 'Last night he gave a truly magnificent performance - one of the most enthusiastic I have ever seen. 'Throughout parts of his show there were hints that he wasn't very well - there were slight signs of a limp and he seemed to have trouble walking. 'But he was ever the showman and carried on regardless, covering his apparent discomfort very well.' A spokesman for South Wales Police said: 'We had a call this morning at just before 10.10am that a male had died at the Hilton Hotel, in Cardiff. His death is not being treated as suspicious.' I saw his last show in Cardiff last night: Gene may have gone around the musical block a few times but last night he proved to the Welsh crowd he was still a great showman.

Opening with 24 Hours from Tulsa, he went on to find his unique voice and belted out one and a half hours of hit after hit right up until his encore of Town Without Pity to a standing ovation. It didn't matter to the adoring fans that Gene's vocals were not as high as they once were. He sang them to their feet and was welcomed back to Cardiff as he deserved - a genuine pop idol. A lifetime of hits: Gene Francis Alan Pitney was born on February 17, 1941, in Hartford, Connecticut. He went to Rockville High School, where he earned the nickname The Rockville Rocket. His career began with writing hit songs for others including Roy Orbison and Hello Mary Lou for Ricky Nelson. Pitney himself enjoyed success on both sides of the Atlantic and charted more than 20 Top 40 hits. His first hit single (I Wanna) Love My Life Away was followed by his first big hit, Town Without Pity that same year.

His last American hit was She's a Heartbreaker in 1968, while he last hit the charts in the UK with 1989's duet with Marc Almond, a new version of Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart which brought him his first UK Number 1 hit. COPYRIGHT 2006 MGN Ltd. No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder. Copyright 2006 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Article Details

Question: Which singer who sang '24 Hours From Tulsa' died April 2006 at the age of 65?
Answer: GENE PITNEY